Turkey neutralizes 30 terrorists over past week

A total of 30 Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) terrorists were “neutralized” during counterterrorism operations across Turkey over the past week, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a statement, the ministry said the Turkish Armed Forces carried out 1,419 counterterrorism operations between May 28 and June 4 with the assistance of land and air forces.

The ministry said 14 of the terrorists were killed, five others were captured and 11 surrendered to authorities. Among the neutralized terrorists were three so-called senior members of the PKK terrorist group.

During the operations, 232 people were arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the PKK terrorist group and 43 others for their suspected links to the Daesh terrorist group.

Also, another 446 people were arrested for suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the July 2016 defeated coup, which martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200, and nine others for their links to leftist terrorist groups.

Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people since the mid-1980s.

Security forces also destroyed 12 shelters, including several caves and 56 improvised explosives, during operations in the eastern provinces of Bitlis, Van, and Diyarbakir, the statement said.

In addition, they seized 27 kilograms (59 pounds) of explosives materials, 36 hand grenades, 19 assorted weapons and 950 rounds of ammunition.

During the operations, security forces also arrested 730 suspects for crimes related to terrorism, and 71 others for organized migrant trafficking crimes, while more than 4,200 people were held for crimes related to drugs and smuggling.

After examining 575 social media accounts, the Turkish police’s cybercrime division launched legal proceedings against 337 suspects.

Additionally, 2,557 anti-drug and contraband operations were carried out during which 424 suspects were captured, according to the statement.

The raids led to the seizure of 2,116 kg (4,665 lbs.) of marijuana, 80 kg (176 lbs.) of heroin, over 5,000 pills or other forms of illegal drugs, and over 28 tons (800 gallons) of smuggled oil.